Mental Health of Parents and Preschool-Aged Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of Harsh Parenting and Child Sleep Disturbances

Abstract

In the context of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, mental health problems of parents and children have become a public issue. Herein, we explored the association between parental well-being index and child mental health problems during the pandemic and the mediating role of harsh parenting and child sleep disturbances. An online survey was conducted among 16,398 parents of children aged 3–6 years (48.1% girls, Mage = 4.69 years, SDage = 0.75 years) from March 15 to 29, 2020. Child mental health (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ), sleep problems (Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, CSHQ), and parental well-being index (World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index, WHO-5), and harsh parenting were reported by parents. The results revealed that a higher parental well-being index was associated with lower child mental health problems. Harsh parenting and child sleep problems were significant mediators within the association. This study indicates the association between parental well-being index and child mental health during the pandemic and underlying mechanism, and has important implications for reducing parental and child mental health problems.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's mental health: A systematic review

“…Of the 30 included studies, about one-third explored the association between sleep and children's mental health during COVID-19 ( 32 , 43 , 47 , 48 , 50 , 55 , 58 , 61 , 63 , 67 ). With the closure of schools, home confinement and social isolation which led to significant changes in children's daily routines and activity patterns, children's sleeping patterns, such as sleep timing (delayed bedtime and rise time) and quality, were altered.…”

“…Since children were forced to stay at home due to school closures and home confinement, the limited space at home as well as the restricted outdoor opportunities for children to be physically active were drastically reduced ( 70 ). Of the 30 included studies, eight studies ( 50 , 55 , 56 , 58 , 60 , 61 , 63 , 67 ) examined the relations between physical activity and children's internalizing or externalizing behaviors. In an internet-based survey of 1,264 children, Liu et al ( 56 ) found that when compared with children who did not do any physical activity, children with physical activity had a lower risk of hyperactivity-inattention (OR 0.44 for 1–2 days/week; OR 0.56 for more than 2 days/week) and fewer prosocial behavior problems (OR 0.65 for 1–2 days/week; OR 0.55 for more than 2 days/week).…”

“…This fact is supported by many existing studies, which provide strong empirical evidence that maternal wellbeing predicts child wellbeing ( 75 , 76 ). About one-fifth of the included studies examined how parents' mental health impacted children's internalizing and externalizing behaviors ( 32 , 39 , 44 , 45 , 55 , 56 , 66 , 67 ). Wang et al ( 67 ) stressed that better parental wellbeing was associated with a decrease in child mental health problems.…”

“…About one-fifth of the included studies examined how parents' mental health impacted children's internalizing and externalizing behaviors ( 32 , 39 , 44 , 45 , 55 , 56 , 66 , 67 ). Wang et al ( 67 ) stressed that better parental wellbeing was associated with a decrease in child mental health problems. Liu et al ( 56 ) found that children with anxious parents were associated with higher levels of emotional symptoms (OR 5.64, 95% CI 2.18–14.58) and total difficulty (i.e., emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention and peer relationship problems) (OR 3.78, 95% CI 1.56–9.15) than children without anxious parents.…”

Parenting style and its effect on eating disorders and substance abuse across the young population

“…Chronic parental mental health problems consequentially lead to harsh parenting experiences, aberrant interpersonal relationships and increased stress levels which incrementally and cumulatively affect the child [ 110 ]. Wang et al [ 135 ] report that poor parental mental health has significant impact on their parenting styles with significant repercussions on their children’s mental health. Depression is closely associated with neglectful parenting [ 40 ].…”